Customer Reviews (3)

Excellent
The only book on Silat published in the U.S. up to this time, Draeger gives an excellent overview of the many different styles that comprise this fascinating fighting art. He seems to have gone to considerable trouble to see as many of the different styles as possible, visiting many villages and islands to seek out the different styles, probably quite an undertaking back in the 70's when this was written. A unique volume on an obscure art form not seen much in the west and a worthwhile addition to your martial arts library.

On a personal note, I only know of one Pentjak Silat instructor in the U.S. at that time. Back in the late 60's, there was a Dutchman by the name of Rudy Ter Linden in Los Angelos who was teaching Silat. He did an interview in Black Belt or Karate Illustrated Magazine, I can't recall which, and he demo'd several of the forms.

The interesting thing about their katas is that they don't all end in one place, so they can be strung together in one long form if you want,sort of interesting. Anyway, Rudy eventually closed down his school and went back to college in L.A. to finish his degree. He was supposed to have several young black belts who went off on their own to open their own schools, but I never heard anything further on this.

*Note: Since I wrote the above a year ago, I did some web research and discovered that Rudy has unfortunately passed away, although he couldn't have been that old. There were some nice tributes to him and to what a great teacher he was, and I was sorry to hear he was gone, because he was a true pioneer in the teaching and dessemination of the Indonesian martial arts. He had gone on to develop his own style that was a synthesis or four or five different styles of Pentjak Silat. Rudy made an important contribution to the martial arts and although I never had the oppportunity to meet him, obviously he will be missed as a teacher and as a human being.

fantastic
I have the 1974 edition and it's still one of the best of its kind.A fine cornerstone to any really good martial arts library for its technical content,historical content,as well as cultural insights.

First book in U.S. on fascinating but obscure art
This is the only book on the many styles of Silat I'd seen up to this time, and probably in the 20 years since. I thought Draeger did a fine job presenting and documenting many of the aspects of this little-known art (at least in the west), and it was interesting to see how it resembled or differed from the many Japanese, Korean, Okinawan, and Chinese arts I've studied over the years. One difference, at least from the standpoint of the more linear, more power-oriented Japanese and Korean styles I've studied, is the greater emphasis on circular movements and techniques, evasive tactics, and less tendency to meet the opponent's power head on, along with the footwork to support such techniques. In recent years I've begun doing this to a much greater extent myself in my own training.

Draeger also seems to have gone to some trouble to get to as many of the different islands as he could to see the local styles, and I enjoyed his descriptions about some of the special features of each style, such as in the case of the high flying kicks of Perisai-diri, or the position on all fours on the sand that Harimau Pentjak Silat uses to get a purchase on unstable ground, from which the exponent leaps up into your face surprisingly quickly, clawing at your face.

Overall a fine book on an obscure art that deserves to be better known, and an interesting addition to your martial arts library. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

A brief comment
First, I should say a little about myself, so you'll know where I'm coming from. I am a professional martial arts instructor with black belts or instructor rank in Filipino, Chinese, Japanese, and Korean arts, and have been studying martial arts for over 40 years since I was 12, but I've never had the opportunity to study the beautiful but deadly art of Silat. However, the style of Kali I hold instructor rank in is said to be about 25% Silat, so I have some background in it, but it's one of the few remaining arts I have yet to study in pure form. Some day I hope to rectify that deficiency, but for the time being I want to say that I think Silat ranks among the world's great contributions to martial arts and deserves to be better known.

As a result, I've researched the art of Silat through the many videos now on the market, and I have just about every important video done on the subject at this point, including William Sanders 10-volume set on Tjimande silat, so I thought I'd make a brief comment and say that I found all the videos I have to be excellent instuctional tapes on the still relatively unknown art of silat. Guru Sanders demonstrates all 18 jurus, or upper body forms, along with many practical applications and self defense techniques in the course of this set. There are also videos devoted specifically to the ground techniques, self- defense, free style sparring, and many other topics in Silat, covering the whole range of topics.

I understand there is some controversy surrounding Guru Sander's credentials and how much training he actually received in Indonesia, but as a martial arts instructor with over 40 years experience, and I think I can tell if someone moves well enough or is knowledgeable enough to be doing a video tape. I found Guru Sanders an articulate, skilled, and knowledgeable exponent of the still unknown but deadly art of Silat and I can recommend his videos if you want further information. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (5)

The Reason Self-Publishing Should Never Be Allowed!!!
* I don't care how much a man knows, if he cannot write, he should not publish a book!
*It is obvious that Pendekar Sanders has a great deal of knowledge, but writing is not among his skills... NOR IS ORGANIZATION! His chapters are an exercise in patience for even a monk. He never separates his thoughts into different paragraphs, which makes each chapter and topic an ordeal to read and understand. His words are vague, and often do not even depict what he is supposed to be showing. In addition, the forms he details in the early chapters do not have accompanying photos (the photos are in another chapter closer to the end of the book), so you have torn the binding of the book by the time you have begun to understand what he is talking about.
* Then, of course, there is the fact that the man devotes more energy to writing about mysticism and the occult than he does the martial arts. If I wanted a book on the Qabbala, I'd have bought one, not a martial arts book.
* I have had this book for about 6 years now, and have re-read it numerous times in an effort to understand the art. Even in re-drawing the pictures of the forms he illustrates, there is no way to come away from this book with any comprehension of the traditional forms within it. No other book has ever frustrated me as much, and I am anxoius to see someone with actual professional pride put together a better book... any 8th-grader could do better, I'm sure.
* This is, by far, the worst martial arts book I have ever seen.

The Reason Self-Publishing Should Never Be Used!!!
* I don't care how much a man knows, if he cannot write, he should not publish a book!
*It is obvious that Pendekar Sanders has a great deal of knowledge, but writing is not among his skills... NOR IS ORGANIZATION! His chapters are an exercise in patience for even a monk. He never separates his thoughts into different paragraphs, which makes each chapter and topic an ordeal to read and undestand. His words are vague, and often do not even depict what he is supposed to be showing. In addition, the forms he details in the early chapters do not have accompanying photos (the photos are in another chapter closer to the end of the book), so you have torn the binding of the book by the time you have begun to understand what he is talking about.
* I have had this book for about 6 years now, and have re-read it numerous times in an effort to understand the art. Even in re-drawing the pictures of the forms he illustrates, there is no way to come away from this book with any comprehension of the traditional forms within it. No other books has ever frustrated me as much, and I am anxoius to see someone with actual professional pride put together a better book... any 8th-grader could do better, I'm sure.
* This is, by far, the worst martial arts book I have ever seen.

A bad drug trip put into print
This book is just some bad opium trip. The picture quality is terrible, the instructions difficult to follow ...

Most disturbing is the great amount of space given to "woo- woo" stuff like black magic and such. It reminds me of the quote by Robert Heinlein, "One man's religion is another man's belly laugh."

If you are interested in the martial arts aspects of Penjak Silat, you will be gravely disapointed with this book. Though rare, there are other books on the subject. All of the ones I have do a much better job of explaining the basics and principles than this rather strange work.

indepth info
I saw a video of Sanders and found some of his movements a bit careless and maybe a little stiff but this book is very informative and I think of great value even if you're not a Cimande practioner or not even a silat practitioner.
VolumeII is maybe even more interesting.

Erik

fascinating teachings on unusual martial art
Great book with fasinating teachings. Discover this traditional martial art from Indonesia. physicla teachings, magickal teachings, jurus, mudras, mantras... It's a must read ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

one of the best but not yet revised
this book perhaps one of the best, mr oong describes the long history of Pencak Silat, shows the careful research of mr oong, from his experience as pencak silat athlete and his long study. Tells more about pencak that you may never thought (there's always competition on every sport)including the spiritual sides of this traditional martial arts. also including the interview with the pioneers. But this book needs to be revised immediately, there's a lot of change on Pencak silat today. Some of the text does not match with the reality again, except the history of Pencak silat.

Reviewing the great work by O'ong Maryono
This is maybe one of the best books I've read about Pencak Silat.
The items and backgrouds are great resources for people who want to learn about Pencak Silat and his history and filosofy.
It's only availble in native Indonesian language (Bahasa Indonesia) but O'ong told me that there wil be an english version also to be published. ... Read more